Anti-sex trafficking campaign kicks off in SF

January 11, 2012 7:14:34 PM PST

SAN FRANCISCO --

A campaign got underway Wednesday to place a statewide proposition on the November ballot that would toughen penalties against sex trafficking. Congresswoman Jackie Speier kicked off the campaign in San Francisco.

The proposal would increase prison terms and fines for the crime. It would also require law enforcement personnel to receive special training and make human traffickers register as sex offenders.

"It also includes registration for all sex offenders to include electronic identifiers, email address, IM handles and other possibilities. This will allow online sites to be more effective in tracking those who have already been convicted of these offenses," explained Chris Kelly with the Safer California Foundation.

California is rated among the worst states in battling human trafficking. Proponents of the measure need to collect 800,000 signatures by April to put it before voters in November.